Designer's initial reaction is to seek local talent

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Local fashion label Initial already has seven full-time designers but they're looking for more creative Hongkongers. To that end, they're starting a competition called To Be Initialer.

'Being a local fashion brand, we want to promote a culture of original designs in young people and we noticed there're not many competitions of this type here,' Initial director Eric Fong Tsz-fung (right) said. 'So we're starting this project in the hope of creating a platform for local designers or anyone interested in design to express themselves.'

Launched in 2000, Initial is especially inspired by Japanese fashion and Fong often travels there for ideas. With this competition, he wants to encourage a boundary-free sense of creativity. 'We didn't set any specific criteria since we want to encourage anyone with any sort of idea to participate in the project. Hopefully, we will see some designs that match our style - which is smart casual.'

Three winners will be chosen by a panel of fashion experts from Hong Kong and Japan, but the HK$5,000 grand prize and a contract with Initial will only go to one person. All selected outfits will be showcased at the grand opening of Initial's Cameron Road store in September.

To enter, download the form at www.initialfashion.com and send your sketches in by July 23. There will be a preliminary round and the first finalists have until August 31 to make complete garments. For more info, call 3402 4499.